System and method for color correction

Abstract

This invention is directed to a system and method for performing color corrections on color image data. More particularly, this invention is directed to a system and method for performing color corrections on color image data in a primary color system. This invention is particularly useful in performing color corrections on color image data that is to be output on a image processing apparatus.

1. A system for color correction comprising:
 means adapted for receiving image data inclusive of a first color signal, which first color signal includes primary color data inclusive of data associated with of each of plurality of primary colors encoded in component values defined within a color space inclusive of cyan, magenta, and yellow values; 
 means adapted for receiving a at least one component threshold value corresponding to a color space conversion; 
 means adapted for testing of a first component value of received image data against at least one received component threshold value to determine whether the first component value is less than the at least one threshold value; 
 means adapted for terminating a color correction if the value of the first component value of received image data is not equal or less than the at least one threshold value; 
 means adapted for determining which of a second component value of received image data and a third component value of received image data is a lesser value; 
 means adapted for generating a selection value in accordance with a determination as to which one of the second component value and the third component value are of lesser value; 
 means adapted for receiving preselected color adjustment data defining a preselected component reduction level; 
 means adapted for generating, in accordance with the color adjustment data, a color correction signal as a function of the one of the second component value and the third component value identified by the selection value, and the first component value; and 
 means adapted for generating corrected image data in accordance with a generated color correction signal. 
 
   
   
     2. The system for color correction of  claim 1  wherein the function is chosen such that a magnitude of the color correction signal is dictated by a proximity of value of a designated one of the primary colors relative to values of primary colors adjacent thereto. 
   
   
     3. The system for color correction of  claim 1  further comprising means adapted for determining whether the first component value is less than the second component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     4. The system for color correction of  claim 1  wherein if the means adapted for determining which of the second component value and the third component value is the lesser value determines that the second component value is the lesser value, corrected image data is generated as a modification of the second component value as function of the first component value and the second component value. 
   
   
     5. The system for color correction of  claim 4  wherein the modification of the second component value is modified such that the new value equals the current value of the second component less a function of the first component value and the second component value. 
   
   
     6. The system for color correction of  claim 1  wherein if the means adapted for determining which of the second component value and the third component value is the lesser value determines that the third component value is the lesser value, the corrected image data is generated as a modification of the second component value as function of the first component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     7. The system for color correction of  claim 6 , wherein the modification of the second component value is modified such that the new value equals the current value of the second component less a function of the first component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     8. A system for color correction comprising:
 means adapted for receiving image data inclusive of a first color signal, which first color signal includes primary color data inclusive of data associated with of each of plurality of primary colors encoded in component values defined within a color space inclusive of red, green, and blue values; 
 means adapted for receiving at least one component threshold value; 
 means adapted for testing of a first component value of received image data against at least one received component threshold value to determine whether the first component value is greater than the at least one threshold value; 
 means adapted for terminating a color correction if the first component value of received image data is not equal to or greater than the at least one threshold value; 
 means adapted for determining which of a second component value of received image data and a third component value of received image data is a greater value; 
 means adapted for generating a selection value in accordance with a determination as to which of the one of the second component value and the third component value are of greater value; 
 means adapted for receiving preselected color adjustment data defining a preselected component addition level; 
 means adapted for generating, in accordance with color adjustment data, a color correction signal as a function of the one of the second component value and the third component value identified by the selection value, and the first component value; and 
 means adapted for generating corrected image data in accordance with a generated color correction signal. 
 
   
   
     9. The system for color correction of  claim 8  wherein the function is chosen such that a magnitude of the color correction signal is dictated by a proximity of value of a designated one of the primary colors relative to values of primary colors adjacent thereto. 
   
   
     10. The system for color correction of  claim 8  further comprising means adapted for determining whether the first component value is greater than the second component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     11. The system for color correction of  claim 8  wherein if the means adapted for determining which of the second component value and the third component value is the greater value determines that the second component value is the greater value, corrected image data is generated as a modification of the second component value as function of the first component value and the second component value. 
   
   
     12. The system for color correction of  claim 11  wherein the modification of the second component value is modified such that the new value equals the current value of the second component plus a function of the first component value and the second component value. 
   
   
     13. The system for color correction of  claim 8  wherein if the means adapted for determining which of the second component value and the third component value is the greater value determines that the third component value is the greater value, the corrected image data is generated as a modification of the second component value as function of the first component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     14. The system for color correction of  claim 13 , wherein the modification of the second component value is modified such that the new value equals the current value of the second component plus a function of the first component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     15. A method for color correction comprising the steps of:
 receiving image data inclusive of a first color signal, which first color signal includes primary color data inclusive of data associated with of each of plurality of primary colors encoded in component values defined within a color space inclusive of cyan, magenta, and yellow values; 
 receiving at least one component threshold value; 
 testing of a first component value of received image data against at least one received component threshold value to determine whether the first component value is less than the at least one threshold value; 
 terminating a color correction if the first component value of received image data is not equal to or less than the at least one threshold value; 
 determining which of a second component value of received image data and a third component value of received image data is a lesser value; 
 generating a selection value in accordance with a determination as to which one of the second component value and the third component value which are of lesser value; 
 receiving preselected color adjustment data defining a preselected component reduction level; 
 generating, in accordance with the color adjustment data, a color correction signal as a function of the one of the second component value and the third component value identified by the selection value, and the first component value; and 
 generating corrected image data in accordance with a generated color correction signal. 
 
   
   
     16. The method for color correction of  claim 15  wherein the function is chosen such that a magnitude of the color correction signal is dictated by a proximity of value of a designated one of the primary colors relative to values of primary colors adjacent thereto. 
   
   
     17. The method for color correction of  claim 15  further comprising the step of determining whether the first component value is less than the second component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     18. The method for color correction of  claim 15  wherein if the step of determining which of the second component value and the third component value is the lesser value determines that the second component value is the lesser value, corrected image data is generated as a modification of the second component value as function of the first component value and the second component value. 
   
   
     19. The method for color correction of  claim 18  wherein the modification of the second component value is modified such that the new value equals the current value of the second component less a function of the first component value and the second component value. 
   
   
     20. The method for color correction of  claim 19  wherein if the step of determining which of the second component value and the third component value is the lesser value determines that the third component value is the lesser value, the corrected image data is generated as a modification of the second component value as function of the first component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     21. The method for color correction of  claim 20 , wherein the modification of the second component value is modified such that the new value equals the current value of the second component less a function of the first component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     22. A method for color correction comprising the steps of:
 receiving image data inclusive of a first color signal, which first color signal includes primary color data inclusive of data associated with of each of plurality of primary colors encoded in component values defined within a color space inclusive of red, green, and blue values; 
 receiving at least one component threshold value; 
 testing of a first component value of received image data against at least one received component threshold value to determine whether the first component value is greater than the threshold value; 
 terminating a color correction if the first component value of received image data is not equal to or greater than the at least one threshold value; 
 determining which of a second component value of received image data and a third component value of received image data is a greater value; 
 generating a selection value in accordance with a determination as to which one of the second component value and the third component value are of greater value; 
 receiving preselected color adjustment data defining a preselected component addition level; 
 generating, in accordance with the color adjustment data, a color correction signal as a function of the one of the second component value and the third component value identified by the selection value, and the first component value; and 
 generating corrected image data in accordance with a generated color correction signal. 
 
   
   
     23. The method for color correction of  claim 22  wherein the function is chosen such that a magnitude of the color correction signal is dictated by a proximity of value of a designated one of the primary colors relative to values of primary colors adjacent thereto. 
   
   
     24. The method for color correction of  claim 22  further comprising the step of determining whether the first component value is greater than the second component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     25. The method for color correction of  claim 22  wherein if the step of determining which of the second component value and the third component value is the greater value determines that the second component value is the greater value, corrected image data is generated as a modification of the second component value as function of the first component value and the second component value. 
   
   
     26. The method for color correction of  claim 25  wherein the modification of the second component value is modified such that the new value equals the current value of the second component plus a function of the first component value and the second component value. 
   
   
     27. The method for color correction of  claim 22  wherein if the step of determining which of the second component value and the third component value is the greater value determines that the third component value is the greater value, the corrected image data is generated as a modification of the second component value as function of the first component value and the third component value. 
   
   
     28. The method for color correction of  claim 27  wherein the modification of the second component value is modified such that the new value equals the current value of the second component plus a function of the first component value and the third component value.